The week following Election Day has given me quiet days to reflect. My campaign for the District #31 Minnesota Senate seat has been an exceptionally positive life experience for me. I am deeply grateful to each of you. The lessons you have taught me were powerful and the regional needs so great that we must not give up. I will not forget the personal stories you've told me at your doorsteps, in your churches and at your community meetings.

More than ever, I am committed to serving the working families and seniors of our tri-county area in an effective capacity. I will continue my service on the Attorney General's Task Force on Consumer Rights and Health Care. And, I will voice your concerns about improving our quality of life in rural Minnesota in whichever leadership roles I may have.

With the election behind us, I feel encouraged by the thousands of you who supported the issues of affordable health care for all, strong schools, clean environment and rural economic growth. We must continue to speak out for farmers who are being squeezed out, for senior citizens paying outrageous prescription costs, for rural schools forced into unfair cuts, for small businesses struggling to compete, for nursing homes suffering a staffing shortage, and for families who see hundreds of dollars each month drained from their budgets due to out of control insurance rates.

Looking over our Senate district voting results, you can be assured that your voices were heard! With almost 30,000 district votes cast, a mere 1800 votes separated the incumbent and me. My hope is that the current Senator will include the concerns of all district voters in his future policy decisions, and not exclude the nearly half who voted for his challenger. I genuinely wish him well for the next session, the four years ahead will be difficult ones.

It was very satisfying to me that our Senate race was characterized by civility and issues-focused campaigning on both sides. I have personally thanked him, and I'd also like to thank his supporters across the district for conducting an honorable race. My team did awesome work, and I am so proud of them!

Now it is time to work together to solve problems with fairness and multi-partisan consensus building. I would also encourage each one of us to stay in touch with our elected officials as they make decisions about our daily lives.

I look forward to continuing to visit in your hometown. I had the great honor of meeting so many truly wonderful people, and I would consider it a privilege to stay in touch. The election may be over, but the needs have not gone away. Let's keep learning, listening and working.

Sharon Erickson Ropes

Winona, MN

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